Category Archives: Latest News

David Karpf, 16, of Trinity Church in Wethersfield, is one of 18 youth who will attend General Convention as part of the “Official Youth Presence (OYP).”

These young people, two from each of the nine provinces of The Episcopal Church (TEC) have a seat on the floor of the House of Deputies (HOD) and voice – but not vote – in deliberations. A young woman from Massachusetts is the other person representing represent Province One.

The youth and their adult chaperones/advisors will be at the entire event. The teens have been preparing by familiarizing themselves with the convention procedures and reading through the resolutions in the famed “Blue Book” of reports and resolutions from all of TEC’s committees, commissions, agencies, and boards (CCABs). The advisors encourage the youth to identify specific topics or resolutions that interest them and to prepare statements in advance, which the youth can read at legislative committee hearings and in legislative sessions.

At 7 p.m. on July 12 Temple Sholom and Congregation Agudath Sholom will host Wall Street Journal Foreign Affairs editor Bret Stephens, who will discuss the Middle East and the crisis Israel is facing both from a foreign and domestic perspective.

Stephens writes the Journal’s “Global View” column on foreign affairs, which runs every Tuesday in the U.S. and is also published in the European and Asian editions of the paper. He is a deputy editorial page editor, responsible for the editorial pages of the Asian and European editions of the paper, the columnists on foreign affairs, and the Far Eastern Economic Review. He previously worked for the paper as an op-ed editor in New York and as an editorial writer in Brussels for The Wall Street Journal Europe.

The discussion will be held at Temple Sholom, 300 E. Putnam Ave. in Greenwich.

On Monday the United States Supreme Court declined to review the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision that the property of Bishop Seabury Episcopal Church was held in trust for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and The Episcopal Church in the United States and that former parishioners of the parish could not take that property with them to another church. This ruling brings the litigation over the property to its final conclusion: the judgment entered in favor of the Parish, the Diocese and The Episcopal Church is now fully enforceable.

Bishop of Connecticut Ian T. Douglas expressed satisfaction with the decision. “This has been a long and difficult process that has taken away from our common witness to the Good News of God in our Savior Jesus Christ. With the decision of The Supreme Court we can now put this matter behind us and once again turn our full attention to the work of proclaiming and making real God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation in all the world.”

In the fall and winter, Bishop Douglas met several times with current leadership of the former parishioners to discuss their options in light of the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision. Those discussions concluded with the former parishioners’ decision to seek further review at the U.S. Supreme Court. Now that the high-court has refused their petition, Bishop Douglas anticipates working through the options with the group.

The dispute arose when the former ordained and lay leadership of the parish chose to leave The Episcopal Church but refused to relinquish possession of its property. Those individuals, named as defendants in the action, first argued to the Connecticut State Court and later, in an appeal, to the Connecticut Supreme Court that they could choose who would control the parish property and that the property was not subject to the doctrine and polity of The Episcopal Church. As it did in 1993, the Supreme Court last September 2011 rejected that claim, ruling instead that The Episcopal Church has the right to govern itself and that courts should respect and enforce the trust in which church property is held for the Diocese and for the wider Church. While we are all blessed with the right to worship as we choose, the court’s ruling joined the many other states that have also ruled that those who leave The Episcopal Church cannot take property of the Church with them.

The people and worshipping communities of the Diocese of Connecticut look forward to restored unity with our sisters and brothers in Groton as we continue to serve God’s mission of reconciliation and healing.

Celebrate Spring with some inspiring outside yoga! Come renew your spirit and enjoy the beauty of nature with this Kripalu yoga class. Practicing yoga outside, we will focus on our connection to nature and to the larger world. This class will include yoga postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation and will be appropriate for all levels, including beginners. In addition to strengthening the body, yoga can help relieve stress, improve health and provide a path for deepening your relationship to spirit. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a towel or yoga mat to practice on if you have one. We will meet outside the Spiritual Life Center’s entrance then move to the location we will be practicing in. Offering: $15-20 Facilitator: Nancy Murray

“Education Under Fire” is a documentary that explores the creation, inspiration and challenges of the semi-underground Baha’i Institute of Higher Learning ❨BIHE❩. BIHE was formed to offer higher education to members of the Baha’i Faith in Iran, as Baha’is there have faced systematic persecution, and been denied access to college education. Following the documentary we will have a brief discussion and opportunity to explore the themes and issues presented in the ﬁlm.

The “Come as You Are” worship musicians of Simsbury United Methodist Church will hold a celebration of contemporary Christian music on Saturday, June 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. They will be joined by the church’s children’s choir for several special songs. Held at the church, 799 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, the concert will benefit a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission trip to Africa. Suggested donation is $10 per person ($25 family maximum). Light refreshments will be available.

Twelve volunteers will travel to Ghana, Africa October 5 – 16, 2012 to work on hospital facilities. Call 860-651-3356 or visit www.simsburyumc.org for more information.